MATCH REPORT: Real Madrid three points clear at the top of La Liga with victory over 10-man Levante at the Bernabeu

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Real Madrid take on Levante at the Bernabeu without a defeat in any competition since the EL Clasico loss at the Nou Camp in late October.

Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo saved Los Blancos from a devastating defeat at city rivals Atletico Madrid last Sunday, with Ronaldo scoring eight minutes from time in a 2-2 draw.

Gareth Bale, fresh from his wonder goal in midweek for Wales against Iceland, should start for Carlo Ancelotti's side.

Gerard Brand

Host commentator

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19:49

Full-time: Real Madrid 3-0 Levante

Job done for Real - the big one against Barcelona is in two weeks' time, but for now they can rest easy four points clear of the Catalan side.

Bale was desperate for a goal all game and struck a fierce shot just past the near post in stoppage time.

19:46

89 mins: Real Madrid 3-0 Levante

So close to a fourth! Marcelo plays a deep ball into the box, and Ronaldo gets up in trademark fashion to head towards goal.

Navas can't reach it, and it somehow hits the bar, bounces off the line and clear.

19:43

85 mins: Real Madrid 3-0 Levante

Di Maria takes a pot shot from 20 yards and Navas collects easily. Real are favourites to go on and win this league after Barcelona's defeat at Valladolid yesterday.

And don't forget Atletico, who will be three points behind their city rivals after this game finishes.

19:38

GOAL REAL MADRID! Real Madrid 3-0 Levante (Nikos OG 80)

Dear me. Nikos has stuck the ball into the back of his own net with nobody around him. Marcelo fizzes a ball across the face of goal but Ronaldo is five yards behind him, in no danger, but the Greek international slots the ball home.

Great finish, wrong goal.

19:35

76 mins: Real Madrid 2-0 Levante

Di Maria gets behind the Levante defence after Marcelo's through ball, but his cutback doesn't quite reach Benzema and is cleared.

Despite only scoring twice, Real have looked superb today. Schalke are next to the Bernabeu in the Champions League next Tuesday, already 6-1 up from the first leg.

19:28

72 mins: Real Madrid 2-0 Levante

Benzema hits the top of the bar as three Real men queued up to head the ball home from Carvajal's deep cross.

In a way, Benzema got in the way of Ronaldo.

A minute later, Benzema can't scramble the ball home from four yards as Navas claws the ball away, before Ramos' rebound is blocked clear.

19:26

68 mins: Real Madrid 2-0 Levante

Ronaldo charges forward and plays a pass to Benzema, who cushions the ball to Marcelo. The Brazilian should really have at least tested Navas, but his left-footed effort in space goes well over. Disappointing.

Nacho Fernandes comes on for Varane with 20 minutes remaining.

19:22

NAVARRO SENT OFF FOR LEVANTE

Navarro has a long history of challenges like that, and this one sees him sent off. He comes through the back of Ronaldo, who makes the most of it.

I think it's a yellow, but the referee gives a red, the seventh of Navarro's career.

Levante manager Joaquin Caparros is furious, and he gets some stick from the Real fans. He responds to them, pleading Navarro's innocence. He has a point...

19:19

62 mins: Real Madrid 2-0 Levante

It's getting to the time where Ancelotti will make changes soon. Most of these have been away on international duty in the week and have come through well so far.

19:14

58 mins: Real Madrid 2-0 Levante

Benzema hits a superb effort from just inside the corner of the penalty area, but Navas gets up and saves well, diving to his left.

19:10

54 mins: Real Madrid 2-0 Levante

Bale steps inside again after Ronaldo completely misses the ball inside the area, but the Welshman's shot is blocked again.

Ramos is then booked, and will miss the next game against Malaga.

19:05

GOAL REAL MADRID! Real Madrid 2-0 Levante (Marcelo 49)

Bale's trademark instep sees him shoot from 25 yards - it's deflected off the head of Vyntra and clear of danger.

Minutes later, the second goal Real have craved. A fabulous one-two between Marcelo and Ronaldo sees the Brazilian whip home a superb finish into the bottom corner from 10 yards with his weaker right foot.

19:02

Second-half: Real Madrid 1-0 Levante

Real will be looking for a second goal to kill off this game against a spirited Levante. The hosts have had a few chances, but Navas in goal has been superb in keeping the score down.

Both sides unchanged, and you could say this Real team is at full strength as we had into the final 11 games of the season.

18:47

Half-time - Real Madrid 1-0 Levante

Real hit the post just before the break, with Benzema's header from an angle saved brilliantly by Navas onto the woodwork from Marcelo's cross.

Real controlled the first-half, the only surprise being it's only 1-0. Navas having a superb game in between the sticks for Levante.

18:44

43 mins: Real Madrid 1-0 Levante

More ball for Levante here, who aren't playing too badly at the magnificent Bernabeu.

They get a corner, take it short and whip the ball in, but Diego Lopez is fouled by Vyntra.

18:39

39 mins: Real Madrid 1-0 Levante

Di Maria's corner is low and cleared on the post for another corner - hard to say whether that is a good or a poor corner.

The second corner is deeper, and Navas gets a hand to it out for another corner. Modric this time, but Sissoko gets it away.

18:36

35 mins: Real Madrid 1-0 Levante

No chances for about 10 minutes now as Levante settle defensively. Alonso plays a fantastic 60-yard ball to Carvajal, but the right-back's centre to Ronaldo is intercepted by Juanfran.

18:32

30 mins: Real Madrid 1-0 Levante

Quietened down a bit in the Bernabeu. Bale can't get on the end of a through ball from Di Maria. Juanfran gives him a little nudge and he bashes into the advertising hoardings. No word from the Welshman, who doesn't want to get involved.

Meanwhile, here's Ronaldo flying through the air...

18:27

26 mins: Real Madrid 1-0 Levante

Di Maria takes a shot from 35 yards with a massive gap in front of him, but it goes a few yards over and wide.

Nine goals for him this season, a great return.

18:23

22 mins: Real Madrid 1-0 Levante

Real look like they're in rampant mood here. They're not knocking the ball about aimlessly, they're going directly at goal to get a comforting lead before half-time.

Bale plays a lovely through ball to Benzema inside the area, but his low effort from 10 yards is saved well by Navas, who has been very busy and will have to be even more busy to stop this being a rout.

Ronaldo (left) jumps over Levante's goalkeeper Keylor Navas (REUTERS)

18:18

18 mins: Real Madrid 1-0 Levante

Benzema slips in Di Maria, whose first touch is a tad too heavy. Navas comes out bravely and collects the ball at the second attempt.

At the other end, finally, a bit of hit and hope from Ivanschitz sees the ball fly a few yards over the bar.

18:14

14 mins: Real Madrid 1-0 Levante

Bale flicks a ball into his box with the outside of his boot and finds Benzema, who somehow lashes the ball over.

His blushes are saved by the fact he was three yards offside.

Bale then drives forward and scares the daylight out of Nikos, but his low drive goes a couple yards wide.

18:12

GOAL REAL MADRID! Real Madrid 1-0 Levante (Ronaldo 11)

Super header from the superstar. Di Maria's corner finds Ronaldo on the penalty spot... he rises higher than anyone to direct a downwards header into the corner of the net past Navas.

His 38th goal of the season, and the Bernabeu is lifted.

18:10

10 mins: Real Madrid 0-0 Levante

Just learned that Levante were actually formed by a group of Barcelona fans, and that the two clubs have good links with each other.

They play in Barca's colours, but aren't playing like them at the moment as Real continue to come forward.

18:07

7 mins: Real Madrid 0-0 Levante

The ball has hardly been in Real's half, as you'd expect, and Bale gets a first taste of the ball on the right-wing.

Di Maria lofts a great ball over the Levante defence to Ronaldo, whose first-time volley is saved well by Navas. Bale can't control the rebound and it's cleared. Good chance.

18:04

4 mins: Real Madrid 0-0 Levante

Carvajal puts a ball into the box but Juanfran heads it out for a corner kick, which is cleared before Real earn another.